Fifth progress report on the cooperative investigation of springs and streamflow in the Tecolote Tunnel area of Santa Barbara County, California

Abstract

This report is the fifth in a continuing series of annual progress reports giving the results of discharge measurements made at more than 120 selected sites in the "Tecolote Tunnel Area" of the Santa Ynez Mountains. This area derives its name from the tunnel now being built by the Bureau of Reclamation for the purpose of diverting the flood waters of the Santa Ynez River as stored in Cachuma Reservoir to the city of Santa Barbara and adjacent coastal communities. The tunnel alignment is roughly north and south through the center of this area, which extends from Refugio Pass on the west to San Marcos Pass and the Painted Cave area on the east. The program of measuring the developed springs and headwater streams in the Tecolote Tunnel area was started on its present scale in the latter part of 1948 at the request of the Santa Barbara County Water Agency. The primary purpose of the program is to obtain sufficient factual data to determine what effect, if any, the construction and use of the Tecolote Tunnel will have on the outflow of the springs in the area. The area covered by this study was made large enough to include all springs that could possibly be affected by the tunnel, as well as springs believed to be outside the zone of influence. The program is being carried on by the Geological Survey under a cooperative agreement with the Santa Barbara County Water Agency whereby each pays one half the cost. Prior to January 1953 the flow at each of the more than 120 locations was generally measured monthly. Since then, the number of sites at which monthly measurements are made has been reduced to about 40, with measurements made every other month or quarterly at the remaining locations. The purpose of this report is to make available the factual data obtained from May 1, 1952 to June 30, 1953.